"Oh, none in the world, since Mr. Munro will have all the legal forms gone through."

The steward accordingly withdrew for his visitor, with whom presently returning, the bond was legally executed, and delivered to Lord O'Sinister.

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Upon my honour (with a laugh), this is a good thing," cried he, as he folded up the paper; "here I have got your bond, for a sum you have not received;" he rose as he spoke, and going to an escritoire in a corner of the room, drew out a drawer. "I don't think, Mr. Munro," pausing here, his back rather turned towards him, "that you looked over this bond?" putting it. up, however, at the same moment.

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No, my lord, I did not think it necessary to do so."

"No, certainly not, Jenkins is excessively exact in all matters of this nature ; I have glanced over it, and find he has strictly adhered to his instructions, rendering it payable in the course of five years, by instalments of a hundred a-year, of

which said instalments (in a good-natured tone), you and I will speak hereafter. In the mean while I must tell you, that I shall expect you'll keep a regular account of your disbursements at Temora, that I may settle with you concerning them, as, whatever you expend there I shall consider laid out on my account." Then, locking up the escritoire, and returning to the table, "I believe," laying some bank-notes be fore him, "you'll find these right."

"Perfectly, perfectly, my lord," in an agitated tone, replied Munro, as he crushed them in his hand, and put them into his waistcoat pocket.

· CHAP. III.

"How abandoned is that heart which bulges the tear of innocence, and is the cause, the fatal cause, of overwhelming the spotless soul, and plunging the yet untainted mind into a sea of sorrow and repentance. Though born to protect the fair, does not man act the part of a demon-first alluring by his temptations, and then triumphing in his victory: when viblainy gets the ascendancy, it seldom leaves the wretch till it has thoroughly polluted him."

STERNE'S LETTERS

LORD O'Sinister resumed his seat and the conversation, which the entrance of the Steward had interrupted: this principally treated of the neighbourhood and beauties of Temora, which his lordship represented as a very fine seat, and contiguous to the sea; so that Munro, on landing at Donaghadee, would have but a short journey to it. After a short interval of silence, he sudden ly enquired whether Munro had many

children? On receiving his reply—“ Aye, true, true," said he, "I now recollect Farmer Stubbs told me you had but a son and daughter-Is the young lady younger than her brother?”

Munro bowed.

"And a fine girl, I make no doubt; well, I hope, Mr. Munro, you won't dislike the idea of having an Irishman for a sonin-law; for I think it very probable you will, as the Irish are, I assure you, quite as capable of forming disinterested, as fervent attachments."

"I know they are, my lord; and, as none can admire the warmth of soul and generosity that characterises them more than I do, so, of course, I should be happy at a connexion with them: the worth of the man who may wish to blend his fate with my daughter's, and not his country, is what I shall look to."

The peer testified the warmest approbation of his sentiments, and then proceeded to express the regret he felt at the little

probability there was of his being able, at

this period, owing to illness, and the affairs which had brought him into Scotland, to pay his compliments to Mrs. Munro and her fair daughter-" Should I not, however," he continued, " 'tis some consolation to think, that next summer I may hope for the honour of an introduction to them, as I then purpose bringing Lady O'Sinister and Miss Athelstone, my daughter, here, and so on to Ireland; in the meanwhile you'll oblige me much by presenting my compliments to them, and informing them it is my earnest request that they would make the same use of the gardens here as if they were their own.”

t

Munro made a suitable reply to this obliging speech; and soon after, concluding his lordship must, from the present state of his health, wish to retire early to repose, arose to take leave, but was compelled to resume his seat, nor suffered to depart till he had partaken of a collation with the peer. He then quitted him, with a heart overflowing with gratitude-a gratitude too great for words, but which